The Sturgis Motorcycle rally is no place for buttoned-down citizens –
UNLESS THEY’RE TRYING TO HIDE A MURDER OR TWO.In this second book in the eponymous series, gutsy, sharp-witted Liv Bergen vows to clear her brother’s name as a murder suspect. Her way is hindered, though, by half a million bikers and gawkers who have turned the Black Hills of South Dakota into a modern-day Sodom in the dog days of summer.
When Liv witnesses a second homicide, she attracts the uninvited attentions of Mully, the menacing leader of biker gang Lucifer’s Lot. Their cat-and-mouse game puts Liv once again in the path of FBI agent Streeter Pierce, who’s gone undercover to find the perp in the first murder—plus a shadow criminal called the Crooked Man. Liv taps every ounce
of brains and brawn she has to avoid becoming the killer’s next victim, and the intriguing Streeter shoots to kill.
If you read my review of Brannan’s first book, In the Belly of Jonah, you know I wasn’t a huge fan, but that all changed with this book. I loved the character development, the story, the details, and how quickly the story moved. I was guessing who the killer would be from the start and was surprised to find myself on the wrong path right up until Liv figures it out. That doesn’t happen often.
Brannan’s ability to describe events and to misdirect you is astonishing. I felt like I was deep within the annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis and while it is a rough, raw, and sometimes hard to swallow place, it allowed me to experience something I would never have the balls to do in real life. The story can be graphic at times, but it’s not over embellished or drawn out for the sake of blood and gore. It makes the story what it is, a ghastly murder with some bad bikers at the center of the story.
I love that the story of Liv was expanded, and that Streeter Pierce was in this one as well. I wasn’t that excited about it when I finished the first book, but I’m so glad I gave this one a chance and read it as well. I’m waiting patiently for the next to be written.
The one thing I can only hope Brannan will wrap up in her next book is the murder of a family friend, and just who is the Crooked Man. I hope the references to them in this book were put there to intrigued and perhaps foreshadow what is to come.
If you have read In the Belly of Jonah, then I know you’ll want to pick this one up. And if you haven’t, then you can read this one and go back later to read the first in the series (you won’t be lost if you read them out of order at this point) or go ahead and spend a weekend wrapped up with two spectacular murder mysteries.
Check out an excerpt from Lot’s Return to Sodom here: Excerpt
And if you missed her first book, In the Belly of Jonah, you can check out my review or read an excerpt from the first book here: My Review and Excerpt
Giveaway
Since I was able to meet Sandra Brannan in person at the Book Blogger Convention this year, I was able to score an autographed copy of the book for my very own. Which means I have my ARC available for one lucky reader. Leave a comment on this post, and I will choose a winner on Tuesday, June 14th.
Good Luck!








Thanks so much for the giveaway!
This is certainly a awesome write-up. Thanks a ton for spending some time to explain all this out for all of us. It truly is a great guide!
Please enter me for Lot’s return to Salem. Thanks!!